Tues. Jan. 19, 2010

"I thought it was going to be just another Tuesday night rehearsal, but WOW, it was amazing!"This appraisal by one member of the Empire State Youth Orchestra was shared across the ensemble after their special rehearsal this past Tuesday with Benjamin Zander. Zander, who is in town this week as part of Albany Symphony's "Zander Week," rehearsed the orchestra in Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. Space for the rehearsal was provided by The Albany Academies who generously supplies rehearsal space each week during the season for two of ESYO's orchestras.

Mr. Zander is a renowned conductor, educator, and author who uses music to deliver a message of how to live life as fully and passionately as possible. Nominated for a 2010 Grammy for his recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 5 with The Philharmonia Orchestra (Telarc records), Mr. Zander is known for his unconventional, humorous motivational presentations. He had plenty of inspirational comments to share with the Youth Orchestra: "It is really all up to you to make the world around you a place of joy," and "Speak to the passion; generate enthusiasm in others through your enthusiasm."

Yet Zander was clearly tuned in to the musicians and the music. He waved off the biographical introduction that ESYO Board President Sarah Delaney Vero tried to give. "I'm here for them," he stated while pointing to the orchestra. And indeed, he was; he arranged his schedule so that he could attend the Tuesday night rehearsal, despite an engagement early on Wednesday in Florida.

After listening to the opening of Romeo and Juliet, Zander, with baton and arms flying, jumped right in with praise for the level of musicianship demonstrated by the young musicians. But he was not shy with constructive criticism, making sure that Tchaikovsky's tempos were followed, that the English Horn be in tune with the harp, and that all sections of the orchestra reflected the emotions of the star-crossed lovers. The rehearsal was part of "Zander Week", presented and organized by the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and running from January 18 through 23. For information about other Zander Week events, please visit www.albanysymphony.com. Zander guest conducts the Albany Symphony in Mahlers Fifth Symphony on January 23, at the Palace Theater, Albany.

Background: About Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc.: 300 of the most talented children in the region are selected by audition each year for positions in ESYO's 9 performing ensembles. ESYO is well known for its Youth Orchestra's participation in CBS 6's Melodies of Christmas (benefit concerts for the Child Cancer Program at Albany Medical Center), and its ensembles give approximately 30 public performances a year. ESYO reaches out to the community with an annual free concert for senior citizens, concerts for young people, recitals in nursing homes, and a music education program providing free, private music lessons to inner-city, low-income youth. About the Albany Symphony: The Albany Symphony Orchestra is one of this region's oldest and most revered music and cultural organizations, having won numerous national awards for its adventurous programming of contemporary music and innovative educational efforts involving area schools for nearly 80 years. As the only professional symphony orchestra based within the Capital Region, the Albany Symphony aims to enrich a diverse regional community, engaging over 150,000 people each year across an extended geographical area.

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Gen Xer heads up 30- year-old Empire State Youth Orchestra

Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc. (ESYO) Announces New Board President and Board Members

Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc. (ESYO) announced that Sarah Delaney Vero, Esq. is the new President of its Board of Directors. Ms. Vero is an attorney in the Albany office of Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC. She succeeds Meris Ruzow, who has served as president for the past seven years.

Ms. Vero was a member of Empire State Youth Orchestra from 1993 - 1998, starting in the String Ensemble. She progressed to ESYO's most advanced orchestra, the Youth Orchestra, where she played cello. "I can relate to the young musicians in ESYO today," Ms. Vero commented, "Going from high school - where I was a big fish in a little musical pond - to ESYO where I was a little fish in a very big pond was humbling and challenging and a terrific learning experience. What a sense of accomplishment my fellow musicians and I shared as we progressed in our abilities and performed at such amazing venues as the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Tanglewood."

A 2002 magna cum laude graduate of Union College, Ms. Vero attended Albany Law School of Union University, receiving the B.A./J.D. degree, magna cum laude, in 2004. As an attorney with BS&K in Albany, Ms. Vero represents employers in all areas of private and public sector labor and employment law. She serves on the boards of Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center and the Arbor Hill Community Center, Inc. and is an active member of the Capital District Women's Bar Association, which recognized her as the Outstanding New Lawyer in 2008.

Ms. Vero has been a member of ESYO's Board of Directors since 2006, chairing the Governance Committee and Space (facilities) Committee and serving on the Strategic Planning Committee. "What makes my volunteer work at ESYO particularly gratifying is that I am not simply giving back to 'the community' but to the very community that helped me grow as a musician, student, and young adult. In a way, ESYO and I are at the same point in our lifecycles, and I find it incredibly humbling to be offered this opportunity to help shape the organization's next stage of development."

Ms. Vero succeeds Meris Ruzow who has served on ESYO's board for 14 years - the past 7 as President. Ms. Ruzow's introduction to ESYO was two-fold: as a music teacher and as a parent of two trumpet players who were members of ESYO. She helped bring the dreams of ESYO's leadership to fruition as she oversaw dramatic growth in ESYO during her term: increased membership; the addition of new performing ensembles; the expansion of the training program for low-income students to include Schenectady and Troy in addition to Albany; and increased support from the community. As she steps down from the presidency, she knows "that the completion of our strategic plan and development of new dreams will succeed under the guidance of our new president, Sarah Vero." Ms. Ruzow will continue as an active member of ESYOs board.

Three new faces on ESYO's board

Kitty Fitzgerald, Susan M. Landauer, and Laurey Goldberg have recently joined ESYO's Board of Directors. Ms. Fitzgerald is a flute teacher with a private studio in her home in Loudonville where she resides with her husband and two daughters (who are both members of ESYO ensembles). Ms. Landauer is a CPA and partner in Forensic Accounting Services Group, LLP, an affiliate of Wojeski and Company, CPAs, located in East Greenbush, NY. She plays flute and previously conducted the Capital Region Youth Flute Choir, working with Ms. Fitzgerald in running that ensemble. Ms. Goldberg is an Associate Director of Gift Planning at Union College and has been involved with ESYO as a volunteer for many years when her son was a member, and more recently as chair of the Gala Committee for the 2008 gala.

Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc. recently received two prestigious awards for its programming from ASCAP and the League of American Orchestras. Founded in 1979 as a single youth orchestra, today's ESYO is an umbrella organization consisting of two full orchestras, a wind orchestra, string ensemble, two jazz ensembles, three percussion ensembles, and an instrument training program for inner-city students in middle schools in Schenectady, Albany, and Troy. ESYO ensembles present over 30 public concerts each season including free school concerts, a free concert in Proctors Theatre for seniors, and the CBS 6s annual Melodies of Christmas benefit concerts. Over 300 middle- and high-school age musicians from over 75 schools in eastern New York and western Massachusetts participate in the various groups. Each year these young performers fulfill ESYO's long-standing commitment to bring great music to a wide array of audiences in the Capital Region. For a complete schedule of the 2008-2009 season, visit www.esyo.org.

(released 3-3-03) ###

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ESYO receives Two ASCAP/League of American Orchestra Awards for 2008

DATE: June 23, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Empire State Youth Orchestra Receives Two ASCAP Awards at League of American Orchestras' Annual Conference in Denver

Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc. (ESYO) announced today that it received two awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the League of American Orchestras at the League's annual conference in Denver, Colorado, on June 13, 2008. ESYO's awards were among 26 presented to orchestras who demonstrated exceptional commitment to contemporary music during the 2007-2008 season.

ESYO received the rarely presented ASCAP Award for American Programming on Foreign Tours for the program performed by its Youth Orchestra while on tour in Europe this past April. According to the League of American Orchestras, ESYO distinguished itself in this category by featuring a program full of American music, including a commissioned work by Dr. Samuel Adler, an American composer and professor of composition at Juilliard, and by bringing Dr. Adler on the tour to introduce his piece to audiences in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Dr. Adler's composition, A Bridge to Understanding, had been premiered by ESYO at its New Music for a New Generation Festival in March 2008. Helen Cha-Pyo, ESYO's Music Director and Conductor of the Youth Orchestra, noted that "There is a perception that European audiences may not enjoy a program of American music, but the reception we received was overwhelmingly positive. Our young musicians crossed 'a bridge to understanding' by sharing American music and 'their' composer, and seeing how all music transcends cultural barriers."

ASCAP and the League also presented the ASCAP Youth Orchestra Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music (first place) to ESYO. Commenting on the Adventurous Programming Awards, Frances Richard, ASCAP Vice President & Director of Concert Music, said "2008 marks the 51st year that ASCAP has saluted those orchestras and music directors whose past season prominently featured music written within the past twenty-five years. Through their adventurous programming, these are the orchestras that enrich the repertory and keep our great concert music tradition relevant, vibrant and alive." ESYO's nine ensembles have consistently included contemporary music in their programs. This commitment to presenting new music was concentrated this past season during ESYO's New Music Festival. During the festival concert, each ESYO ensemble premiered a commissioned piece by an American composer. The festival was funded in part by a $100,000 grant from the New York State Music Fund.

Started in 1979 as a single orchestra, today's Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc. is an umbrella organization that includes two full orchestras, a wind orchestra, a string ensemble, two jazz ensembles, three percussion ensembles, and an instrument instruction program for inner-city, middle-school children. Over 300 school-age musicians from more than 75 schools in eastern New York, southern Vermont, and western Massachusetts participate in the various groups. Each year these young performers fulfill ESYO's long-standing commitment to bring great music to a wide array of audiences in the greater Capital Region. The 2008-2009 season will be ESYO's 30th year providing music education and performance opportunities to highly talented young musicians. For more information, please visit www.esyo.org. ###

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And the Winner Is...ESYO!